San Gabriel Valley Digest

Azusa : Suicides Spur Jailer Plan

Reacting to two suicides in the Azusa City Jail last year, the City Council has voted to spend nearly $162,000 to hire a staff of jailers to supervise prisoners.

Police Chief Lloyd Wood, who is also city administrator, said the state Board of Corrections has recommended that the city hire jailers and train them to recognize prisoners who are potentially suicidal. Wood said the two suicides, both by hanging, were the first in the Azusa jail in nine years.

He said at least five full-time jailers will be hired. They will relieve police officers of the responsibility of booking prisoners into the jail, a process that takes about 40 minutes.